Benjamin Valz

Jean Elias Benjamin Valz (May 27, 1787 – April 22, 1867) was a French astronomer.

He was the son of politician Jean Valz and the grandson of the doctor, meteorologist and naturalist Pierre Baux (1708–1790).

He later made a very complete calculation of the orbital elements of another comet, for which he won recognition.

In 1835 he hypothesized that irregularities in Comet Halley's orbit could be explained by an unknown planet beyond Uranus — at the time, Neptune was not yet discovered.

In 1874, Valz's widow donated 10,000 francs to the French Academy of Sciences to establish a prize in honor of her late husband.